Pataudi, Sep 23 (IANS): Bollywood veteran Sharmila Tagore and the locals of Pataudi remembered late Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi on his first death anniversary Saturday.

Sharmila inaugurated a new operation theatre at a charitable eye hospital here.

"Nawaz sahab always wanted the facility of operation theatre here but it could not work out then. Today he is not here with us but I am happy that his wish has been fulfilled."

"In future too, we will take care of the needs of the people of Pataudi and see to it that they don't have to go out for any eye surgery," Sharmila, 65, said Saturday.

Also present were her daughters Saba and Soha Ali Khan.

India's first cricket superstar, Pataudi passed away Sep 22 last year after battling severe lung infection. He was 70.

Pataudi, who lost his right eye at the age of 20 in a car accident, helped around 1.5 lakh visually challenged people to get back their sight. He continued to do so even after his death when he donated his eye.

In 1993, the Venu Netra Kendra was set up by late R.K. Seth, founder of Venu Eye Institute & Research Centre, New Delhi, with the help of Pataudi.

Also known as "Tiger", Pataudi and his family became sight ambassadors of the eye institute in 2002.

Tanuja Joshi, managing director of the eye institute, thanked the Pataudi family for their constant support.

Remembering Pataudi, she said: "Many lend their voice for a particular cause but not many show their commitment but Pataudi ji always supported this organisation and that is reason we have been able to treat so many people here."